“Aaron shall place lots on the two goats: one marked ‘For the Lord,’ and the other marked, ‘For Azazel.’ And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the lot, ‘For the Lord,’ comes up, and offer it as a sin offering. And the goat on which the lot ‘For Azazel’ comes up, shall be placed while still alive, before God, to achieve atonement through it, and to send it away to Azazel, to the desert.” (Leviticus 16:8-10)

Questions: What is Azazel? Why must a goat be cast off into Azazel? Why does a sacrifice not suffice?

Ideas: Serve goat’s cheese, goat’s milk or anything made with goat products, you can also serve anything “wild” like wild rice, wild strawberries, or wild mushrooms to represent the wilderness of Azazel.

“If a man has a raised area, a scab, or a spot on the skin of his flesh, and it forms a lesion of leprosy on his skin, he shall be brought to Aaron the High Priest, or to one of his sons, the priests.” (Leviticus 13:2)

Questions: Why does the Bible devote so much attention to describing a skin condition in such vivid detail? What is it about leprosy that makes it worthy of such attention? What did leprosy punish?

Ideas: Make “spotted” or “tongue” cookies, or anything wrapped up in puff pastry dough, in a tortilla-type wrap or even sushi which is wrapped in seaweed! (Lepers often wrapped themselves with many bandages.) See how long everyone at your table can go without speaking about someone else.

“He took (the gold) from their hands, and fashioned it with an engraving tool into a molten calf, upon which they said: ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” (Exodus 32:4)

Questions: Why do you think that Aaron agreed to help make the golden calf? Is he as much to blame as the people were? It seems so out of character for Aaron to agree to this! What do you think happened? Have you ever been in a situation when you have done something against your better judgment? What happened?

Ideas: Serving any kind of roast or beef, even meatloaf will do to represent the calf. Set your table with a golden tablecloth or table runner, decorate the table with gold confetti or golden napkin rings – anything glittery or sparkly with which to decorate your table – or your meatloaf!

“The people remained far off, but Moses drew near to the thick cloud, where God was.” (Exodus 20:17)

Questions: Why did the people remain far away? Do you think you would have wanted to be close to the mountain? Why did God appear in a thick cloud? Why not in a pillar of fire? Aren’t clouds a little gloomy?

Ideas: Serve marshmallows, dark chocolate, chocolate covered marshmallows, and anything with whipped cream (which you can darken a bit with cinnamon or cocoa powder for effect!). Purchase or make meringues, or serve fruit with whipped cream to represent the “thick clouds.” Any “dark” chocolate dessert can be used to represent the “darkness,” and serving plenty of alcohol will be sure to make everyone a little “foggy”!